So, I'm still hunting high and low for history curriculum. I've looked at many of the suggestions that I've been given, but the biggest problem I keep running into is how reading intensive they are. While Jamie's reading has been progressively improving throughout this year, and her comprehension is starting to grow a bit too, I'm just really really leary having her sit down and read and copy and memorize. Its not how she learns at all. On my hunt I've found these two progrmas: TRISMS (which I know is mostly high school, but I was looking at the 6-8th program they offer), and See Time Fly Series.

See Time Fly has "flights" instead of chapters, and each flight has 5 paragraphs. There are questions to answer after each paragraph, and there is a workbook that goes with it, including drawing something. It's more learning through pictures and visually than it is by reading. I figured I could use that for at least 5th, 6th, and 7th grade, and then spend 8th grade on US history (which I'd still have to find....). It looks easy enough for my little guy (who'd be K/1st grade next year) to do if he was read to (which she could do), and I can make it more complicated for her if I needed to, so I'm killing 2 birds with one stone. (I hope the picture came in below, it is an example from their website of their flights)

(above is part of the workbook)The bonus for me with this one, is that it's $100 for all three books and workbooks - so three years of history, instead of $100 each year, which is what I've been spending now.

TRISMS on the other hand is exceptionally different. It is a Unit Study program and goes over History, Geography, Science, and Langauge Arts. From the examples I've seen, I wouldn't use the Science in it as a full Science curriculum...but it would make a neat supplement...or I could build off of it since I still haven't found a science program I want to use yet either :/. The History Masterminds (the 6th-8th program) goes from Ancient Egypt to the Space Race. The student has three binders, one for Scientists, Inventions, and Explorers. From my understanding - and I could be wrong - get a questioneer, and then they have to research the person, invention, event being studied, and they essentially write their own text book(s).

I don't know if Jamie would fit this, but I almost feel like if she had to look up the information on her own, maybe she'd remember it better? It seems to be extremely flexible though, so the bits I don't want to do, looks like I can take them out easily enough (such as the bible/church history portions). I'm torn still on the Language Arts part of it. I like what we're using, and so does Jamie so I'd hate to change it up, but at the same time, I like what they have for assignments too :/ Being a History major, I love how this is set up and entirely reserached base, so I don't know if it is my love for the set up that really wants to use this or if it would be a good fit. I know it is how I learn too, but I feel I'm to clouded over to really make the decision if Jamie is struggling with reading and writing, if having her research on her own is good, or if I'm setting her up for failure, and regressing on the progress we've made. The major downfall for this program for me is the cost...it is quite expensive, which looks like its around $270... and I'm not positive if that includes everything. I'd also have learn more about IEW...

For the remainder of this year though, I decided I'm going to take the scope and sequence of what we already have, and try to set it up similar to Trisms to see if it will even work for her... My fear with the See Time Fly series, is that it might be too easy for her even though I can add to it. I know I have to take cost into account to, but I'm shuffling a lot of our stuff around again *sigh* I wish this was easier lol. Thank you for sticking out this far if you have!!!

Replies

I am loving that See Time Fly series. I wonder if it's too easy for my kids (10 and 11)...but it would be nice to have it already figured out for me..I am flying by the seat of my pants and I am no history major.

Does Jamie like to research? That seems like a lot, to research everything, for a 9 year old...but if she enjoys it then it would be ok. I think you should try doing it with some topics you are covering now to see if she likes that method.

I'm worried it might be too easy too... but I figured that if there is at least a base, it'd be easy enough to then go find library books or a video or something from History Channel to go along with it and then come up with a project or something (if needed). Here's the website for it : http://www.ganderpublishing.com/Visualizing-and-Verbalizing-See-Time-Fly-History-Series-Volume-One-Workbook.htmlIt does say it's "late elementary/middle school through college" reading level... but again, not sure how much of a challenge it would be, but on the other hand...its better than nothing right? lol

As far as Jamie and researching...I have no idea. She's not a very self motivated type learner, so I don't know how it'll go, but I was going to try out the rest of this year that way since Story of the World just isn't working. I have her read the chapter, and then I read it to her (sometimes the other way around), and then ask her what the chapter was about and she can't tell me. I'm giving up with it... I also wouldn't have her reseraching a ton of different things this year. I was thinking of making up a question sheet that as she researches, she can jot the answer down, and then I'd help her put the questions alltogether in paragraph form.

Quoting TJandKarasMom:

I am loving that See Time Fly series. I wonder if it's too easy for my kids (10 and 11)...but it would be nice to have it already figured out for me..I am flying by the seat of my pants and I am no history major.

Does Jamie like to research? That seems like a lot, to research everything, for a 9 year old...but if she enjoys it then it would be ok. I think you should try doing it with some topics you are covering now to see if she likes that method.

SOTW wasn't working for us either! But I feel very lost since I am not a history person. DH gave me some basics of what he thinks they need to cover, but I still feel lost, lol. I'm wondering if it would be worth the $100 to have that base and then get library books and documentaries to supplement. And they could also do research on some of it, it would be easy enough to have them research a topic from what is covered.
I would definitely try your method, give her a worksheet to fill in and have her research, if she hates doing it, then you know that program probably isn't the best investment. If you are going to do that anyway, you could also do it along with the See Time Fly one to beef it up a bit.

Quoting No_Difference:

I'm worried it might be too easy too... but I figured that if there is at least a base, it'd be easy enough to then go find library books or a video or something from History Channel to go along with it and then come up with a project or something (if needed). Here's the website for it : http://www.ganderpublishing.com/Visualizing-and-Verbalizing-See-Time-Fly-History-Series-Volume-One-Workbook.htmlIt does say it's "late elementary/middle school through college" reading level... but again, not sure how much of a challenge it would be, but on the other hand...its better than nothing right? lol

As far as Jamie and researching...I have no idea. She's not a very self motivated type learner, so I don't know how it'll go, but I was going to try out the rest of this year that way since Story of the World just isn't working. I have her read the chapter, and then I read it to her (sometimes the other way around), and then ask her what the chapter was about and she can't tell me. I'm giving up with it... I also wouldn't have her reseraching a ton of different things this year. I was thinking of making up a question sheet that as she researches, she can jot the answer down, and then I'd help her put the questions alltogether in paragraph form.

Quoting TJandKarasMom:

I am loving that See Time Fly series. I wonder if it's too easy for my kids (10 and 11)...but it would be nice to have it already figured out for me..I am flying by the seat of my pants and I am no history major.

Does Jamie like to research? That seems like a lot, to research everything, for a 9 year old...but if she enjoys it then it would be ok. I think you should try doing it with some topics you are covering now to see if she likes that method.

I figure I'm already spending $100 on history a year anyway, so why not $100 on three years. I was going to get next year, so if anything, I had something for my little guy. I didn't think about beefing it up with like that with Jamie lol. Oddly enough, even though I love history and it's my major, I feel lost trying to figure out what someone should know lol. I feel like I'm trying to cram in too much stuff, or trying to have the kids undrestand things that they're clearly not ready to understand. Then I get frustrated they don't understand it, because its easy for me to understand, and then I have to remember...O they're this age...too soon lol. I need something to "hold me back" a bit. Thats the only reason I haven't attempted to just wing it (this was how we got to talking about nuclear fusion when she was in 1st grade...although, she brought it up...I was at a loss there lol)

Quoting TJandKarasMom: SOTW wasn't working for us either! But I feel very lost since I am not a history person. DH gave me some basics of what he thinks they need to cover, but I still feel lost, lol. I'm wondering if it would be worth the $100 to have that base and then get library books and documentaries to supplement. And they could also do research on some of it, it would be easy enough to have them research a topic from what is covered. I would definitely try your method, give her a worksheet to fill in and have her research, if she hates doing it, then you know that program probably isn't the best investment. If you are going to do that anyway, you could also do it along with the See Time Fly one to beef it up a bit.

Quoting No_Difference:

I'm worried it might be too easy too... but I figured that if there is at least a base, it'd be easy enough to then go find library books or a video or something from History Channel to go along with it and then come up with a project or something (if needed). Here's the website for it : http://www.ganderpublishing.com/Visualizing-and-Verbalizing-See-Time-Fly-History-Series-Volume-One-Workbook.htmlIt does say it's "late elementary/middle school through college" reading level... but again, not sure how much of a challenge it would be, but on the other hand...its better than nothing right? lol

As far as Jamie and researching...I have no idea. She's not a very self motivated type learner, so I don't know how it'll go, but I was going to try out the rest of this year that way since Story of the World just isn't working. I have her read the chapter, and then I read it to her (sometimes the other way around), and then ask her what the chapter was about and she can't tell me. I'm giving up with it... I also wouldn't have her reseraching a ton of different things this year. I was thinking of making up a question sheet that as she researches, she can jot the answer down, and then I'd help her put the questions alltogether in paragraph form.

Quoting TJandKarasMom:

I am loving that See Time Fly series. I wonder if it's too easy for my kids (10 and 11)...but it would be nice to have it already figured out for me..I am flying by the seat of my pants and I am no history major.

Does Jamie like to research? That seems like a lot, to research everything, for a 9 year old...but if she enjoys it then it would be ok. I think you should try doing it with some topics you are covering now to see if she likes that method.

Ok, I'm a complete pain in the ass. They say that the Egyptian people were handsome with black hair and then ask how you imagine they look. Handsome is so very subjective, and then to be asked to describe how they look from that, I think that's asking for some quesitonable stuff. I like the layout, but I'd have to see more of it, because I'm just not comfortable with their visual description (or lack thereof) of Egyptians. Not even sure why that was put in there.

I figure if you're already spending that much anyway and will at least use it for your younger one, then why not go for it? I think it would be fairly easy to beef it up for her with projects, researching, etc.

lol, I am so the same way, expecting them to understand things...they can't even remember to change their underwear every day, but I want them to understand things that they clearly are not ready for. I just think if I understand it, then why cant they? I'm not that brilliant, lol. I definitely ened reminders now and then to tone it down...but sometimes I need reminders to push them a bit harder too. I figure eventually I'll figure this whole thing out!

Quoting No_Difference:

I figure I'm already spending $100 on history a year anyway, so why not $100 on three years. I was going to get next year, so if anything, I had something for my little guy. I didn't think about beefing it up with like that with Jamie lol. Oddly enough, even though I love history and it's my major, I feel lost trying to figure out what someone should know lol. I feel like I'm trying to cram in too much stuff, or trying to have the kids undrestand things that they're clearly not ready to understand. Then I get frustrated they don't understand it, because its easy for me to understand, and then I have to remember...O they're this age...too soon lol. I need something to "hold me back" a bit. Thats the only reason I haven't attempted to just wing it (this was how we got to talking about nuclear fusion when she was in 1st grade...although, she brought it up...I was at a loss there lol)

Quoting TJandKarasMom: SOTW wasn't working for us either! But I feel very lost since I am not a history person. DH gave me some basics of what he thinks they need to cover, but I still feel lost, lol. I'm wondering if it would be worth the $100 to have that base and then get library books and documentaries to supplement. And they could also do research on some of it, it would be easy enough to have them research a topic from what is covered. I would definitely try your method, give her a worksheet to fill in and have her research, if she hates doing it, then you know that program probably isn't the best investment. If you are going to do that anyway, you could also do it along with the See Time Fly one to beef it up a bit.

Quoting No_Difference:

I'm worried it might be too easy too... but I figured that if there is at least a base, it'd be easy enough to then go find library books or a video or something from History Channel to go along with it and then come up with a project or something (if needed). Here's the website for it : http://www.ganderpublishing.com/Visualizing-and-Verbalizing-See-Time-Fly-History-Series-Volume-One-Workbook.htmlIt does say it's "late elementary/middle school through college" reading level... but again, not sure how much of a challenge it would be, but on the other hand...its better than nothing right? lol

As far as Jamie and researching...I have no idea. She's not a very self motivated type learner, so I don't know how it'll go, but I was going to try out the rest of this year that way since Story of the World just isn't working. I have her read the chapter, and then I read it to her (sometimes the other way around), and then ask her what the chapter was about and she can't tell me. I'm giving up with it... I also wouldn't have her reseraching a ton of different things this year. I was thinking of making up a question sheet that as she researches, she can jot the answer down, and then I'd help her put the questions alltogether in paragraph form.

Quoting TJandKarasMom:

I am loving that See Time Fly series. I wonder if it's too easy for my kids (10 and 11)...but it would be nice to have it already figured out for me..I am flying by the seat of my pants and I am no history major.

Does Jamie like to research? That seems like a lot, to research everything, for a 9 year old...but if she enjoys it then it would be ok. I think you should try doing it with some topics you are covering now to see if she likes that method.

For my middle schoolers I bought used history text books form the thrift store ($2). Then I have spectrum workbooks ($7 each for roughly 70 lessons). And we use library resources (free). Then documentaries from tv, YouTube, library, and other internet sources (free).

If I feel anything extra is needed I make my own worksheets, tests, quizzes and projects.

So I am searching the Internet for spectrum workbooks, and can hardly find any history ones at all. Where did you find them? I have middle schoolers as well and feel like I need a bit more of a guide...we started at the beginning and are on Ancient Greece right now, heading for Ancient Rome.

Quoting PurpleCupcake:

Oh my, that price tag is outrageous to me (I'm a cheapskate).

I wouldn't pick either of those.

For my middle schoolers I bought used history text books form the thrift store ($2). Then I have spectrum workbooks ($7 each for roughly 70 lessons). And we use library resources (free). Then documentaries from tv, YouTube, library, and other internet sources (free).

If I feel anything extra is needed I make my own worksheets, tests, quizzes and projects.